Five crashes block westbound Int. 196 at Holland

Press Photo/Mark CopierIcy conditions on westbound Int. 196 south of Holland caused a six-vehicle pile up including a Michigan State Police car Friday morning. The trooper was out of the car because he had pulled over to assist drivers of an earlier crash. Minor injuries were reported.

HOLLAND -- Westbound Int. 196 is closed as of 8:30 this morning after a series of five different crashes involving six vehicles on an icy overpass.

In one of the crashes, a motorist rear-ended a parked State Police patrol car, flipping it over and likely totaling the vehicle.

Trooper Craig Theodore had stopped to assist another driver. His car was parked on the shoulder when another car struck it.

The series of accidents began about 6:50 and an hour later, wreckers worked to remove the damaged vehicles.

Tractor-trailers and cars were backed up for miles, leading to congestion at the M-40 interchange as they sought to leave the interstate.